Japan Proposes Economic Zone Linking Indian Ocean, Africa at TICAD Summit

At the 2025 Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba proposed an economic zone connecting the Indian Ocean to Africa, aiming to boost Japanese investment and trade in African markets while countering China's growing influence. The initiative encourages Japanese companies currently operating in India and the Middle East to redirect investments into Africa, supporting sustainable development and free trade aligned with the African Continental Free Trade Area. Ishiba also announced plans to extend up to $5.5 billion in loans in coordination with the African Development Bank to help address African debt issues and pledged to train 30,000 artificial intelligence experts over three years to promote digitalization and job creation. The summit highlighted Japan's approach as one emphasizing transparency, long-term cooperation, and mutual benefit, distinguishing it from China's infrastructure-heavy model. The gathering of nearly 50 African leaders and international figures, including U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, underscored concerns about Africa's underrepresentation in global decision-making and the negative impact of U.S. policies under President Donald Trump, such as tariff conflicts and foreign aid cuts, on African development initiatives. The three-day summit focuses broadly on economic growth, peace, health, climate change, and education, reflecting Japan's intent to strengthen its strategic and economic role on the continent amid shifting global dynamics.